Sugar-spraying device



May 18 1926.

E. ROBERTS SUGAR SPRAYING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 f Filed March 4, 1922 May 3% g 1926.

E. ROBERTS SUGAR SPRAYING DEVICE Filed March 4, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 18 1926.

1,585,608 E. ROBERTS SUGAR SPRAYING DEVICE Filed March 4, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 1 8 192 6.

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UNITED STA E PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE ROBERTS, F S ALT LAKE GITYNUQIAH, nssroivon To THE WESTERN STATES uAcnmE compan A CORPORATION or UTAH.

snenn-srnnme DEVICE.

Application filed March 4, 1922. Serial No. 541,052.

This invention relates to the sugar refining art and is intended to provide a device of the class disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,224,095, granted April 24, 1917 relating to the washing of sugar or other material in centrifugal machines.

It is the object of the present invention to improve and simplify the mechanism and to provide a device of this class which shall be compact in construction, easy to assemble and disassemble and fully protected against the intrusion of water when the overhead mixture is being washed soas to avoiddeterioriation of parts and particularly shortcircuiting of the driving motor. .Ease of adjustment and reliability of operatilon are also among the objects obtained.

The features of construction and arrangement by which the foregoing and other objects are obtained will be explainedjin this specification and will be defined in the claimsv hereto annexed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a simple, convenient and compact arrangement embodying the principles of this invention in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section on the plane w-w of Figure 5.

Figure 2 is a detail view showing in cen tral section the construction of the main shaft and the hand-controlled sleeve or setting member.

Figure 3 is an elevation showing the relation of the upper portion of the housing and the driving motor carried thereby.

Figure 1 is a detail plan view illustrating the inlet strainer.

Figure 5 is a plan view in section taken on the level of the top edge of the main casing Figure 6 is a detail illustrating the plunger pin for keeping the spray-oscillating rockarm inactive when the sprayer is not operat- 1n lligure 7 is a front view of the spray. plate of the nozzle.

Fi re 8 is a detail view illustrating the relation of the timer worm to the timer member by which the duration of the washing period is determined.

Figure 9 is a detail view in elevation illustrating cooperating parts shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a plan view of a portion of 3 are 3. It will be u the casing lid or cover' showingthe' tuneradj ustlng arm and its dial plate.

Figure 11 is a vertical section on'the plane Figure 12 is a detail view of the control.- ling dog and the cooperating portion of the hand-operated setting sleeve.

Figure 13 is a detail view illustrating the liquid conduit, valve mechanism and spraying arm.

Figure 14 is a' detail view illustrating the spray nozzle rocking arm and its movable detent by which it is kept out of operative relation to its actuating cam.

Like the device of; Patent No. 1,224,095, above referred to, the apparatus forming the subject matter of this invention embraces, generally speaking, an oscillatory spray nozzle, an automatically controlled valve and a timer mechanism set in operation by the act of opening the valve and operating after a variable but predetermined-period to automatically close. said valve and incidentally cease oscillating the spray nozzle.

The-main external parts of the device comprise a hollow box or casingv 1 surmounted by a closely fit-ting lid or cover 2 which forms the support for an upwardly extending housing member in two parts 3 and 4 bolted together as by connectin bolts 7, the upper member or portion of the housing terminating in a gear chamber 5 tightly closed by a lid 6 whose central aperture forms a bearing support for the vertical drive'shaft. The up-. per member of the housing carries a bracket 8 for accurately supporting and positioning the driving motor 9 which is iastened in position of alignment with the dri vin worm spindle 10 by'means'of-screw's 11 which ass into the external casing'of the motor 9 w ich is closed to prevent inflow of water. The reduced end 10 of the motor spindle telescopes inside the hollow worm 10 with which it has splined driving engagement as shown in Fig curbs of the centrifugals where they are subjected to flooding by water when the overhead mixture is washed, and therefore it is desirable to protect the motor and working parts from copious downfall of water.

As the object of the apparatus is to effect the'closing of the valve primarily, and inciderstood that in sugar refineries these machines are placed on the dentall the cessation of spray-nozzle oscillation, I will first describe the liquid conduits and the valve-actuatin most clearly in detail in Figure 13.

In the bottom of the casing is located the sleeve portion 18 of the spray arm while affording access to the interior and especially to the packing gland.

To oscillate the spray arm 19 through the hub sleeve 18 I provide a rocker-arm 20 which surrounds the inner end of the sleeve 18 and is fastened thereto by a key or the like, asshown in Figure 14. The rocker arm is provided with a cam roller 26 arranged to engage the underneath lifting or bunt cam of the crown type, shown. at 29 in Figure 1, which is secured to the main 30 shaft. This rock-arm 20 is rovided with a lateral boss shown at 20 :1 apted to be engaged by the spring pin shown in Figure 6 to hold the rocker arm in raised position out of contact with the cam when the valve is closed, as will be presently explained.

Theivalve 30 is attached to the lower end of the vertical valve stem 31 which stem is pivotally connected to an arm 32 of a rocksleeve 33 mounted on a horizontal stud 34, carried by a side wall of'the casing, which rock-sleeve has a projecting arm or lug 35 in which is mounted a spring-supporting member or screw 36 carrying at its lower end a nut 37 or stirrup receiving the upper end of the spring 38, the lower end of the spring being suitably anchored at' the bottom of the casing. It will be seen that the lifting of the arm 32 raises the valve from its seat against the tension of the spring 38 which normally tends to close the valve and the extension can be regulated by adjustment of the tension screw. The rock sleeve also carries an upper extension or arm 39 provided'with an antifriction roller 39 adapted to be engaged by a projecting arm or lug formed on the setting member or sleeve as will be hereinafter explained.

This rock sleeve is also provided. with a curved depending arm 40 whose lower end is transversely bored to receive a springpressed pin or plunger 41 which normally presses against the faceof the boss or lug 20 of the nozzle-actuatingrock-arm when the rock-arm is dropped and which is in a po"it on to spring out beneath the projectmechamsm as shown ing lug or boss 20 when the rock-arm 20 is in its raised position. Obviously, the same rocking motion that lifts the valve from its seat Wlll swing the pin or detent 41 away from beneath the boss 20' and thus allow the rock-arm to drop until the cam roller rests upon the actuating face of the cam. It will be understood that the main shaft and the nozzle-actuating cam rotate continuously while the motor is running whether the valve be open or closed.

I will now describe the construction and arran ement of the main shaft and the mechnism y which the valve is opened against the tension "of the valve spring and the timer or. spray regulator is set in operation for a predetermined period in order to allow the valve to close after a proper interval.

The main shaft, as shown at Figure 2, is preferably made in three sections, a middle section 40 loosely coupled or end-splined to the lower section 41", and a coupling member'42 which is tapped into the upper end of the main shaft section 40", in this case by a right hand screw thread, and is provided with a keyway 43 so that it can be splined to the worm gear 44 which is driven by the worm 10 on the driving spindle 10 of the motor. The object of this construction is to prevent the reverse rotation of the drive shaft in case, through error, the motor should be so connected with the electrical mains as to rotate it in the reverse direction to that intended. In such case the reverse rotation of the motor would unscrew the coupling member 42 from the main shaft but without driving the main shaft in the reversedirection. In other words, the feature of this construction is that the main shaft is non-reversible in its rotation and is thereby rendered fool-proof to avoid injury to the working parts. The splined end connection at 45 is provided so that the housing 4 and the parts carried thereby may be lifted out of the casing when the cover is removed to give convenient access to the interior mechanism.

Inside of the housing and surrounding the main shaft is mounted an elongated sleeve 50 which constitutes the setting member by which the valve is opened, the automatic timer is started in action and the actuating rock-arm for oscillating the spray nozzle is released for operative relation to its actuating cam.

As shown particularly in Figure 2. the upper and lower ends of this sleeve are of reduced diameter, while the intermediateportion is of larger diameter and is adapted to receive the split hub 51 of thehand or starting lever 52 which is clamped thereon and which rests upon the upper end of the lowcr housing member 3. Just above this enlarged intermediate portion the sleeve 50' is provided with" screw threads to receive a collar 54 which supports the upper member 4 of the housing, the lower edge of said housing member being in contact with the upper face of the hub 51. This collar 54 receives the endwise thrust between the sleeve and the housing.

At the lower end of the enlarged portion of the setting sleeve member there is an annular flange 55 from which extend various arms or projections having definite. relations and functions to operative parts of the mechanism. One of these members comprises an arm 56 arranged to impinge against the antifriction roller 39 carried at the top of arm 39 of the rock-sleeve or valve-controlling member 33 so arranged that when the sleeve member 50 is rotated in a clockwise direction by the starting lever 52 the valve stem is lifted by its connected arm 32 to open the valve. swinging the arm away from the boss 2t) on the nozzle-oscillating arm 20 allows the latter to drop by gravity to establish operative contact between the cam roller 26 and the bunt or crown cam 29, as before explained. It will, therefore, be seen that this movement results in opening the valve and setting the spray nozzle to oscillating.- v,

It will be seen that provision must be made to prevent the premature return of the setting member under the tension exerted by spring 38 through the screw connections with the arm 56. I, therefore, provide on the flange 55 another projection forming a stop member 57 (see Figs. 11 and 12), and adjacentthereto is mounted a pivotal dog or latch 70 having a short arm 7O with or without an antifriction roller, to engage the lower'end of the finger or lug 57 to prevent movement in a counterclockwise direction. As will be seen in Figures 11 and 12, this stop member 57 is cut away at its upper end so that the engaging pin or roller 7 0 of the dog, when in contact with the lower offset end of the lug 57, prevents this counter rotation, but as soon as the dog is lifted above such offset portion of the stop plug, the sleeve is allowed to rotate a short distance sufficiently to allow thevalve to close. At its lower end the pivotal dog or latch 70 is provided with a horizontal offset hook'portion or projection 7 0 adapted to be engaged by the pin of the timer element so as to allow the sleeve to be returned to non-stop position in order to allow-the valve to close as will be hereinafter explained. The rear' end of the dog 70 may be provided with a projection 70 to limitits pivotal movement by engagement against the wall of the casing or any other fixed part.

I will nbw describe the automatic timing mechanism by .which the duration of the spraying period is determined. The timing element proper comprises, in this case, a rotatable worm gear 80 carrying an upward- This rocking of the member 32 by ly projecting dog-engaging pin 81 and having also a downwardly projecting pin 82 on its under faceto which is secured a; spiral or clock spring 83 whose other end Is anchored to a fixed sleeve 84 carried-by the 70 vertical supporting pin or stud 85 so that the timing gear 80 may be rotated in a contraclockwise direction against the tension of the spring by suitable mechanism, while the spring under tension serves to return the timing gear toinitial position whenever the driving mechanism rotating it is disconnected.- When the knock-off pin 81 reaches a certain predetermined point in the rotation of the gear 'it strikes. against the foot 7 0of the dog 70, previously described, and by its further rotation raises said dog from the position indicated in Figure 12 to the position indicated in Figure 11 thereby allowing the valve to instantly close under the pull of its tension spring 3&

Now it is desirable that the duration of the spraying or washing period be varied according to the nature or character of the sugar or other substance being treated since difierent grades of material require difierent lengths of washing. With this object in view I have provided means, best shown in Figure 1, in the form of an adjustable. stop member which limits the return movement J5 of the timer element under the torque of its return spring. This stop member may be of an suitable construction, but in this case comprises a spindle 86 having a projecting arm 86 which engages a projecting arm 87 on the upwardlyextending hub 88 of the worm gear or timer 80. At its upper end the spindle 86 carries an external setting arm 89 in which is mounted a spring-pressed pin 89 which is located to engage any one of a series of holes arranged in a dial plate- 90. on the upper face or lid of the casing as shown in Figure 10 said pin having its upper. end enlarged to be easily grasped. These holes are designated by suitable indicating marks so that the lever may be setso as to advance or draw back the stop, arm 86 which marks the initial point or limit at which the timer member comes to rest normally before it is engaged by its actuating means .to rotate until the knock-01f pin releases the dog as above described.

It will be understood that the duration of the washing period is determined by the size of the angle or the length of the are 120.

through which the timer has to turn before reaching the knock-ofi'point that stops the washing. As the knock-0E point is where it impinges against the lug 70 of the dog 70 86, which carries the stop finger 86 which is turned on its axis to different positions by means of the dial pin handle 89 outside the machine. This stop finger 86 limi tsthe of the timer the more nearly the initial or starting position of thetimer, against which it is held by its torsion spring, approaches the knock-ofl point .and, consequently, shortens the arc of movement permitted the timer and hence the shorter the duration of the washing eriod.

As .it is desired that the timer element or gear 80 shall be actuated only for the ap-- propriate length of time to suit the washing requirements, provision is made forstarting the timer in action atthe same time and by the same movement of the hand lever that opens the valve. To this end a suitable driving connection between the main shaft and the timer is provided, this being so arranged that the driving connection or timer actuating device shall be thrown into operative driving relationship to the timer by the shifting movement of the setting member or sleeve 50, already described.

On the reduced lower end portion of the setting or starting sleeve is loosely mounted a short sleeve 60 which has a projecting lug 61 adaptedto engage a stopblock 58 secured to the underside of the sleeve flange by means of screws 58*, as

'. shown in Figures 8 and 9. A spiral spring 62 is anchored at its outer end toa downwardly projecting pin 63 carried by the flange 5'5, the inner end of said spiral torsion spring being secured to the sleeve so as normally to exert a torque on said sleeve in the clockwise direction, ,which torque is resisted by the engagement between the lug, 61 and the stop member 58. I As shown in Figure 9 the stop member 58 has a horizontally extending hook-like portion' projecting beneath the lug 61 to support the sleeve 60 againstdownward' sli The sleeve 60 forms a rotata ble springpressed support for a short horizontal worm shaft whlch latter is mounted in a downwardly dependin arm 64 integral with or carried by said s eeve 60 and which forms a bearing for supporting the swinging worm shaftor spindle 65 which latter has secured to its inner enda bevel gear 66 intermeshing with a bevel 'ar 67 secured to the main shaft 40, rotation of the main shaft being continuously transmitted through these timer gears to the worm 65. Therefore, when the setting or starting sleeve member is rotated a short distance in a clockwise direction carrying with it the stop-blockv '58, the tension of the spiral spring 62 acts to cause the worm-supporting sleeve 60 to turn in the same direction. This rotation of the worm-supporting sleeve results in'swinging the worm 65 into mesh with the worm gear sleeve or member is to avoid injury by the forcing of the worm against the timer gear when the threads on these two parts are not in exact registry The spring connection allows the worm to yield temporarily until its revolution brings its thread into exact registry with the worm gear teeth when the worm is pressed into mesh without injury to the parts.

It will be observed, by reference to Figures 1, 4 and 5, that the inlet pipe 16 which conductsthe water supplyto the valve chamber 15 is provided with a strainer, chamber in which is placed a strainer comprising a cylindrical split ring 96 between whose upper and lower members is placed the perforated strainer plate 97, these parts being held together on a central post or bracket 98 supported by the removable cover 99 which is held in place by the clamping screw 100 passing through the stirrup or yoke 101 whose opposite ends hook beneath the external flange 95 of the strainer chamber. This construction allows the strainer to be conveniently removed for cleaning purposes.

. rior and or casing 9 of the motor and of the receiving and supporting bracket 8.

The 0 eration of the device briefly stated is as fol ows: The starting position of the timer mechanism is determined by the setting of the timer adjusting arm 89, the operator dropping the dial pin 89" into the appropriate hole in the dial. As soon as the charge of sugar is 'readyfor the washing operation the operator throws over the hand lever 52 in a clockwise direction thereby opening the valve, establishing operative connection between the main shaft and the timer gear through the timer actuating worm or element, while at the same time the detent 41 carried by the arm is movedfrom the lug 2O on the spray-oscillating arm 20 so as to allow the cam roller to drop into engagement with the cam and start the oscillation of the spray nozzle. At the same time this movement allows the timer controlled dog to drop into the path of the dog releasing pin'81 on the timer, that is, into the starting sleeve 50 until such time as the knock-off pm 81, by its engagement with the foot of the latch or dog 70, raises the dog 'into the position shown in Figure 11 when,

- secured with a minimum of wear or stress dog operation by the attendant, regardless of the upon the actuating parts. Moreover, the parts controlling the opening of the valve, the intermeshing of the timer mechanism and the idling of the cam arm for oscillating the nozzle are all directly carried by the starting sleeve which is coaxial with the main shaft of the machine.

By reference to Figures 5, 11 and 12 of the drawings it will be observed thatthe rockshaft which carries the pivotal stop latch 01' dog 70,- is continued'through the wall of the casing, as shown in Figure 5, and is provided with,,a short external arm 70 for the urpose of allowing the stop latch or %0 to be released at any stage of the ositionof the releasing timer pin 81.

ile normally the timer within the enclosed casing. acts to automatically release and cause the valve to be closed, nevertheless, it may often happen that it is desirable to shut olf the water from the sprayer without delay. By thus carrying the rock-shaft of the pivotal dog outside of the casing through the side wall it is possible for the operator to stop the appara'us at will, while at the same time the construction does not expose the working parts to the sugar fumes and to the flood of water that is used for flushing the overhead apparatus at times.

What-I claim is: 1. In an automatic spraying device for washing sugar in centrifugals or the like,-

the combination of an enclosing casing, a

main actuating shaft vertically mounted' therein, a nozzle-oscillating cam secured to said shaft, a spray nozzle. adapted to be oscillated by said cam, a spring-closed valve controlling the flow of liquid to the spray nozzle, a starting sleeve pivotally mounted about said shaft, said starting sleeve being provided with means for opening the valve and for .keeping the valve open against the tension of the valve-closing spring, and automatically controlled means for releasing, the sleeve to allow it to return to initial position and thereby permit the valve to close, substantially as described.

2. In an automatic spraying device for the rotary timer, and with means for openwashing sugar in centrifugals orthe like, the combination of an enclosing casing, a main actuating shaft vertically mounted therein, an oscillatory spray nozzle, a springclosed valve for controlling the flow of liquid to said spray nozzle, a starting sleeve rotatably mounted around said shaft and having an arm forming part of the valve opening-mechanism, a pivotal dog arranged to engage a portion of said sleeve to prevent its return to starting position, rotary timing mechanism actuated from said main shaft to release said dog after rotation through a predetermined arc and thereby allow the starting sleeve to return to imtial position to allow the valve to close, substantially as described. a 3. In an automatic spraying device for washing sugar in centrifugals or the like, the combination of a main driving shaft, an oscillatory spray nozzle, a spring-closed valve arranged to control the flow of liquid to said spray nozzle, a rotary timing mem her, an oscillatory starting sleeve mounted coaxially with said shaft and having a stop member for preventing the return. of said sleeve to initial position, said sleeve being provided with means for establishing a driving connection between the main shaft and ing the valve against the tension of the valveclosing spring after the timer has rotated through a predetermined are, substantially as described.

4. In an automatic spraying device for washing sugar in centrifugals or the like, the combination of a m'saindriving shaft, a spray nozzle, a spring-closed valve, a ro tatable starting member having operative connections with said valve to open it against the tension of the closing spring, a stop dog arranged to prevent the reverse rotation of said starting member, a rotatable timer, and. a driving'worm havingpermanent operative connection with the main shaft and movable by the rotation of the starting member into driving engagemen't with the timer member, said timer being provided with means for releasing said latch to allow the starting member to return to initial position and permit the valve to close, substantially as described.

5. In an automatic spraying device for washing sugar in centrifugals or the like, the combination of a driving shaft, a spray nozzle, a spring-closed valve for controlling the flow of liquid to said nozzle, 2. ro-' tary timer, a rotary actuating member having permanent operative connection with the driving shaft and adapted to be interml-t i tently connected with the timer through the agency of a yielding springwhen the startingm'ember is .thrown in position to open the valve, substantially as described.

6. In an automatic spraying device for combination of a main driving shaft and spray nozzle, a spring-closed valve, a. rotary timer, and an actuating worm therefor mounted to have permanent operative connection with the main shaft and free to swing about said main shaft into position to mesh with said timer, and a spring normially tending to throw said waorm into mesh with the timer with a yielding pressure, a dog for holding the starting member against return to initial position, and m'eans operated by the timing member for releasing said dog to allow the valve to close and to disconnect the timer from its driving worm, substantially as described;

7. In an automatic spra ing device for washing sugar in centrifuga s or the like,the

combination of a spray nozzle, a spring-' pressed controlling valve therefor, a rotary timer and main driving shaft, a worm shaft having perm anent operative driving conneotion with said main shaft and mounted toswing about said main shaft to intermesh with the timer, a rotatable starting member having spring connection with the worm support to allow the worm to yield when meshing against the timler, means for holding the starting member against return to initial position, said holding means being arranged-to be released by the timer aftera predetermined rotation of said timer, substantially as described.

8. In an automatic spraying device for washing sugar in centrifugals or the like, the combination of a casing having an upwardly extending housing, a' vertical drive shaft mounted in said housing and casing, a driving motor removably supported on said housing in position to establish driving connection with said. shaft, the driving connection between said shaft and said motor being nonreversible in order to prevent the rotation of said shaft in the wrong direction, automatic timing mechanism operatively connected with said shaft, .a spray nozzle, a spring-closed valve for controlling the supply of liquid thereto, and means actuated by said timer after a predetermined rotation to release the valve and allow it to close, substantially as described. I

9. In an automatic spraying device for Washing sugar in centrifugals or the like, the combination of a spray nozzle, a springclosed controlling valve therefor, means for opening said valve, a main driving shaft and automatic mechanism driven thereby for releasing said valve to allow the same to close after a' predetermined interval, a driving worm, a gear for rotating said shaft in one direction only, said shaft being made 7 in upper and lower disconnectable interlocking sections to allow the removal of the upper section without disturbing the lower sectlon, substantially as described. I

10. In an automatic spraying device for in one direction only, and an electric motor whose driving spindle is constructed-to removably fit into and drive said worm, substantially as described. g

11-. In an automatic spraying device for washing sugar in centrifugals or the like, the

combination of an enclosm casing including an upwardly extending ousing, a spray nozzle mounted thereon, a cut-off valve mounted therein, a main shaft mounted in said casing and housing, automatic timin mechanism embracing a rotary timer, an

disconnectable actuating means permanently connected with the main shaft for establishing driving connection between the main shaft and the rotary timer, a torsion spring 'for returning saidtimer to its initial position when released from its driving connection and an adjustable stop member arranged to limit the return movement of said timer to anytdesired initial position, substantially as described.

12. An automatic sprayer for centrifugals embracing in its construction an inclosing casing, a drive shaft mounted therein, an external, oscillatory nozzle, a spring closed cut-ofl' valve for cutting off the supply of liquid to the nozzle, means for retaining the valve in open position against its closing sprin a timer acting, after a predetermeans for releasing the valve at any time before the timer reaches releasing position, substantially as described.

14. The combination with an oscillatory spray nozzle, a spring-closed cut-ofi' valve,

'a drive shaft, arotary timer, a starting member movable by hand to 0 en the valve against its closing spring, an also to start the timer in action, means preventing the return movement of the startingmember and the closing of the valve,'said means being automatically released after a predetermined movement of the timer, and manually operated means for releasing the starting member at will thereby allowing nozzle oscillating arm operatively engaged the valve to close independently of the timer. by said cam when the valvev is open and held 10 15. The combination of an oscillatory out, of such operative enga e'ment when the spray nozzle, a cut-off valve, a nozzle oscil- .valve is closed, substantially as described.

,lating cam secured to a continuously run- In Witness whereof, Ihave subscribed the ning actuating shaft, an intermittently oper- "above specification. ated timer acting, after a predetermined w movement, to cause the Valve to a close, a EUGENE ROBERTS. 

